5|25: Celebrating Five Years of Autism Science Day 8: Creation of Neuroligin-3 Mutant Mouse

In honor of the anniversary of Autism Speaks’ founding on Feb 25, for the next 25 days we will be sharing stories about the many significant scientific advances that have occurred during our first five years together. Our eighth item, Creation of Neuroligin-3 Mutant Mouse, is from Autism Speaks’ Top 10 Autism Research Events of 2007.

Animal models have long been employed to replicate some of the behavioral and biochemical characteristics of autism. The models are chosen for study either because they have behaviors reminiscent of autism, or because they have received genetic or environmental manipulations believed to be linked, directly or indirectly, to autism.

Yet, only with the recent progress of detailed genetic studies in developmental disorders have these models been based on the actual genetic differences found in humans with autism. Some of these newer models for autism include mouse models of medical genetic syndromes that show overlap with autism, e.g., Fragile X syndrome, Rett syndrome and Tuberous Sclerosis. However, no model existed that contained the precise genetic defect found in anyone whose autism is not caused by one of these other genetic syndromes. This changed in October 2007, when researchers in Texas reported they had succeeded in replacing the mouse neuroligin-3 gene with a human version containing the exact mutation discovered in 2004 to be the cause of autism in a Swedish family with two affected brothers. Excitingly, the initial exploratory studies have found the “humanized neuroligin-3″ mouse has several unusual behaviors, including deficits in some social behaviors and an increased ability for spatial learning in a swimming test.

This mouse provided the research community with a strong new tool to directly assess the neurobiology, behavioral deficits and, conceivably soon enough, treatment approaches for autism. Such models are a vital part of the drug discovery process because measurement of changes in their behaviors can be used as surrogate markers for preclinical evaluation of new therapeutics.

Since this story was first run: Genetic studies continue to provide new opportunities for the generation of animal models of autism, including many related to the function of the neuroligins. In 2009 the same group of researchers carried out a behavioral characterization of mice lacking the neurexin-1alpha gene, which creates proteins that serve as binding partners for the neuroligins. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science, the scientists have now discovered that the neurexin-1alpha mice have abnormal brain physiology and increased repetitive behaviors.